The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-09-28
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
cultiyating Corn and Cotton.


A Louisiana correspondents opinion
IS thus given as to the proper prep
aration of land and the best mode OF
cultivating cotton and corn, which are
the same:
The best land for cotton, / think, is
a quality with clay subsoil. say from
twelve to fourteen inches below the
surface, broke to the subsoil by using
small turn plows that will cut from
six to eight inches. Follow
In the same furrow with one
size smaller plow; a harrow
should be passed over the land
for good seed bed; the rows should
be not less than four feet wide on hill
land. opened with a Spanish plow, if
planted by hand, and let stand from
seven to nine inches in the drill. one
stack in hill. (Mr Dickson's sys-
lem advocates six inches in the drill.
two stalks in hill.) l think that by
leaving it any closer in the drill would
cause the bolls to rot in this
country, as we have so much rain
here. Cotton should not lock between
the rows. Cotton in we'll broken soil.
wide rows, close in the drill. and Gull
tivated shallow mot exceeding one
inch), will not grow so large; it will
make fruit in place of leaves; it will,
by being thick in the drill, mature
quick and hold fruit by the roots pene-
trating the deep broken soil. Shallow
cultivation will cause the moisture to
rise to that pulverized surface; the
roots must not be cut unless you can
cause rain to fall on the ground every
six days. The roots want water, not
the weeds. If we could keep it from rain
ing on the stalk we would make more
cotton than twice the number of labor.
crs could gather. Cotton is a sun
J. plant, and for that reason, the rows
should be wide, so the foliage will not
meet.
As for corn, think the same mode
of cultivation should be practiced as
for cotton; also the same preparation.
Light sandy land for corn should be
laid off in rows from six to six and a
half feet wide and eighteen to twenty
four inches in the drill; in rich bottom
land it may be only fifteen inches in
the drill, the distance of rows the
same. lido not believe in drifting corn
or cotton except just enough to keep
the land from baking between the
hills. Throwing bed to corn forces
the roots to the surface and will want
more rain than corn kept on the level.
A we'll will go dry quicker on hill
than it will on level land. think the
best way to plant corn is on level,
as such land, if drained. will not
hold water in pudlles as land thrown
up in ridges. Plant cotton on &
small ridge or bed and cultivate to 6
level for summer. use in cultivat
ing, principally. the Dickson sweep
twenty to twenty-four inches. liv'
six miles south of the city of Match
itoches, on old Red river. The land:
In Natchitoches Parish are very pro
ductive, and we raise us fine corn ant
cotton as any country in the same lati
tude. We are too far south for eithe
corn or cotton. The citizens of thu
parish are generous brave and indus
trious. But, Mr.. Editor, l must close
as am writing more for advice thai
any thing else, although seeming t.
give it. have been trying t, farm
for about fifteen years, and it seem
almost impossible TO learn as woult
like to. Last year I gained SOM
valuable new lessons, one OF whic
was the training Of hands to do doubl
the amount of work with more cas-
and less of sweat and muscle. Davi
Dickson, of Georgia, the world-re
nowned farmer, said that the scienc
, of agriculture was soon learned, bu
, nothing to compare with the executio
, If details. Other farmers may hav
had as good education agricultural
, rs he had, but none of us come as nea
putting it into execution as he die
, Some men are born mechanics, som
! orators and some farmers. Davi
, Dickson was born a farmer Southey
(nlt9,1tor